Customer Reviews

The Sleeping Father

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I am amazed by the amount of vitriol in some of the reviews of this book. It's sharp and witty at turns, yes, but ultimately the author treats his characters on the whole more gently than, say, Evelyn Waugh or Jane Austen. I have read there's a movie in the works, and even as I was reading the book I found myself casting it in my mind (paging Jake Gyllenhaal). I would also say that this book has more in common with the movies American Beauty and The Ice Storm than with any other recent novels that come to mind. So, if you liked either of those films, I can recommend this novel to you without reservation. It's not particularly experimental in technique, so it all really comes down to the tightness of the writing and the humanity of the characters, who will live in your head for a long while after you've finished the book.

I am astounded at the negative reviews of this book! I found this to be one of my most enjoyable reads in recent memory. The reader must step out of the box a bit to appreciate the quirkiness of this novel, but the task is worthy of the effort. It's highly original and the plot, while not mired in reality, is well developed. Is everyone in this book dysfunctional? Maybe, but those who can't occassionally see themselves here and there in these pages are in denial. If you prefer to think in black and white, this may not be for you. Appreciate alternative lit? Check it out, you won't be disappointed...

I am so surprised to see the virulent animosity aimed toward this book. It was one of the best books I've read in awhile. To me, if a book is full of great, quirky characters who think unique, interesting thoughts, that is a book well worth my time. Tom Robbins is a master at this: books where the plot is secondary to the characters and the ideas. To read this book and focus on whether this plot point or that plot point is realistic is to miss the point, I think.

This book is basically made up of several people who are caricatures of the most negative traits a person can have. If you think people are essentially flawed and unpleasant than this is the book for you. I, however, found it to be depressing and pointless. The story line was so promising...

Contrived, marginally written at best, and wholly unoriginal I would have sued the school board if I were forced to read this book for credit. The characters are as one-dimensional and wooden in their caricature as a picture of the novel itself. This was clearly the author's vehicle to immpress readers with his delusional "gift" of dry wit, sarcasm and feined adolescent angst; Mr. Sharpe, you are no J.D. Salinger. At best, you make Dave Barry look like (worthy) Pulitzer-prize material.

Dizzying, dazzling, dark, and at times hysterical (I couldn't think of another "D" word), this stellar work is reminiscent of McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD or possibly even Vonnegut or Palahinuk. You don't know whether to laugh or cry over this triumph of a novel, and Sharpe's handling of the material is beyoned most other author's grasp. What a wonderfully refreshing and original read this turned out to be.

First of all, I can not believe this book was recommended by the Today Show! Somebody was smoking something when they read this book! And second, who are these people who are giving 4 and 5 stars to this book?!! They must be friends of the author/editor/publisher...somebody OR they are as dysfunctional as the characters in this book!!

I read this book through to the end only because it was chosen for my bookclub. I would loved to have shredded it into tiny pieces and then watched it burn! This had to be this most annoying book I have ever read! At times the read was extrememly boring and the other times it was utterly depressing! The Sleeping Father has a horrificly unrealistic storyline!

Every character is dysfunctional...and what was the point of the story anyway?! The author has the teenage kids of a invalid father, taking care of the house, paying bills, driving the car? Please! What teenager could take on all that responsibilty without an adult's help? What organization would accept a fifteen or sixteen year old's $75,000 as a donation? There were numerous questions and frustrations vented at my bookclub meeting regarding the absurd happenings in this book - too numerous to get into them all!

Trust me, this book is a ridiculously unrealistic, draining read! I hated every word of it!! I don't even want to keep the book in my house, it was so awful!

I admit, I approach many of these television book club selections with a bit of caution. Many of them, while good, start to all sound alike, which is why I found The Sleeping Father. Bernard is the father in question who unwittingly takes the wrong anti-depressant and falls into a coma. While in the coma, and then in recovery, his teenaged children, Chris and Cathy, are left to cope with not only their father's recovery, but also the normal trials and tribulations of contemporary teens. This novel is quirky, as are Chris and Cathy. Some of their undertakings must be taken with a grain of salt, seen as fantasy rather than reality. All in all, I think this novel is a departure from the typical book club selection. Enjoy.

Since it was recommended by a Book Club on the Today Show, my library ordered it. It was written by a professor of literature, as I was reading it I thought, "Surely it is going to get better". It didn't if anything it got worse.

When I finished the book I would have thrown it out the window but it belonged to the library.

P.S. This one didn't deserve even one star.

UGHHHHH!
Don't Bother. This family and book is dysfunctional. I wanted to commit suicide after reading the first chapter. How many things can a family screw up on. First what school system would not check and follow up on a senoir that is suppose to graduate and have an invalid Father. What hospital /rehab would send a patient home to have his children take care of him with out help. What gives with the therapist that provides sexual favors to family members. I have never read a book with so many dysfuncyional people in my life. It was a big let down and if this is the type of book that gets recommended by the Today show, I would like to meet the person doing the reviewing